( -183 ) 
K great viper of martinioue. 
g^'dable reptile is peculiar to the islands of Mar- 
vi'« A^’ . antlBeconia, and has never been traced 
V’ fesp continent. On account of its 'trian.<jnlar 
of a spear, it has been named bv the 
1 tkioonocei’halus ; when full grown it 
'(,3. feet in length, and its bite is highly dan- 
Sa ''"oil as its mode of darling, very 
V' th ’ eircles, one upon 
C^ill of ® ejrcumvolutions of which incline all at once at ' 
so as to throw the M'hole mass ibr- 
silah rnanner of the crested or 
^ti.iio tf’ itself vertically on its tail, and 
R- lar ^ height of a man ■, at the same lime that, by 
St coy^® scales, laid over each other, with which the 
serj^eut, like the adder, can climb 
Ue*^ aiuong tlie branches, in order to reach 
bp(f ^1- '^'Bese young he devours, and in which lie 
found coiled up. 
\ 
''SCInatING POtVEll OF SNAKES. 
'n LiH instance of the fascinating power of snakes 
Ml Q/~»n f A T .•• 
travels in Southern Africa. In ram- 
V a a 1 Cape Town, he saw', at the brink 
w'^'t 5”‘>ke in pursuit of a fiekl mouse. I'lie 
X.J *kiT) ttt its hole, when it seemed in a mo- 
dV* proceed, and, without being 
■fV'* its'i,!*’'?'^’ palsied with terror. I'he snake 
>''(■(1 ““'s hr'“' • - - 
' opened its mouth, and 
V;, ® ej-es stedfastly upon him. Both remained 
C’ iL > hut upuu imu. J50U1 remained 
t ' ■'3 liP„,i mouse made a motion, as it 
V‘ '*6 ■ heart f, liji.uc u motion, as ii 
to pf snake instantly followed the move- 
jj ”P Ins way. This sport lasted four or five 
^ end to it: the 
a np_ Iiis prey hastily, and glided aw»y 
vkf ^Uehrl ^ Riv;- iKiMuy, anci ^ 
Sveat a I 1 had,” Ite obseives, 
i^i^ ®'iim...u^ magic pow'er in the snake over 
of interesting to me to see a 
"'lieH made a question, 
tner the poisonous breath of the reptile 
Y2 
